Running from the stresses of everyday life

"DADDY, you're going to die" was my (then 13-year-old) daughter's cheeky reaction to my telling her I was training for a half marathon. And her hypothesis was not entirely without merit. At that point I had never run more than 5 kilometres and it seemed somewhat foolish to try to keep up with the younger lawyers in my office who had invited me to join a Dechert team in the NTUC Income Eco Run Half Marathon in 2018.

That said, I have always been one to embrace a challenge and push my boundaries, both personally and in my legal practice, and before long running ignited a new fire in me. Come race day, I surpassed all of my own expectations, and within weeks I was signing up for my next race.

With each training regime and race enrolled, I was amazed at how rewarding I found it. Not only was I noticeably getting faster and healthier physically, but my focus became clearer, my energy and enthusiasm to embrace new things and challenge myself professionally too was propelled. By 2019, I was racing regularly and my running programme became an intrinsic part of my schedule.